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This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Wannapa Suprasert, a 28-year-old from Thailand now based in San Francisco who was scammed out of over $300,000. The following has been edited for length and clarity.I never thought that I'd be a victim of a drawn-out scam. I always thought <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/scammed-all-savings-changed-retirement-plan-2024-7">scams were about making quick money</a>, like someone calling and asking for $2,000 within 10 minutes.Instead, I went through three months of psychological warfare. The scammers created a new reality for me, making me think that if I didn't comply, I could be jailed or deported. They framed themselves as the good guys who could help me, never rushed me to do anything, sent me fake documents, and even talked to me on the phone for hours at a time.It didn't register in my brain that the scammers would invest so much time and energy into this. Now I know that they're professionals, and this is what they do.<h2>They said I was a suspect in a money laundering scheme</h2>It was a Friday afternoon in March when I got the call that changed my life.I was at my data analyst job in San Francisco, and the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/government-impostor-scams-prey-on-fear-during-pandemic-bbb-study-finds-1029446957">caller said she was from the Thai embassy</a> in Washington, DC. She asked to speak with Wannapa Suprasert, which spooked me because I generally go by my nickname, Bow.She told me that someone had smuggled a passport bearing my name into the Bangkok airport. She started interrogating me on whether I had lost or sold my passport. I was shocked.I told her that I hadn't lost my passport and offered to prove I still had it. She said she'd transfer me to the Thai police to file a report. My call with the "police" dropped a couple of times, and someone posing as an officer asked me to add them on LINE, a messaging application popular in many Asian countries.This didn't strike me as fishy because I'd just gone back to Thailand in February and communicated with the Thai consulate via LINE about renewing my passport while I was home.At one point after my call had dropped, I tried to phone the Thai embassy in Washington, DC, but nobody answered.The "police officer" claimed to be part of the Central Investigation Bureau, a division of the Thai police. He sent me a PDF copy of a police report he said he had filed for me. He also said he discovered my identification number on a list of at least 239 people involved with an international money laundering scheme. I was now a suspect.<h2>I had to send updates four times a day</h2>The fake officer sent me a PDF with the alleged photos, names, and descriptions of five masterminds behind the fictional laundering scheme and interrogated me over video chat about whether I knew any of them. The supposed masterminds included two bank managers, an American police officer, a Thai consulate official, and a Thai exchange student in the US. After I told him I didn't know any of them, he said that they'd investigate and help me clear my name. But because I was a suspect, I needed to send daily updates about my whereabouts and activities to ensure I didn't flee.I had to send three pictures of myself, my location, and a description of what I was doing four times a day: at 9 a.m., 12 p.m., 5 p.m., and 8 p.m. He told me that if I didn't comply, he would send agents to monitor me. If I tried to escape or missed a daily report, my family could be jailed and their assets frozen, he said. He also said I couldn't tell anyone because it might interfere with the investigation, which also involved the FBI. If I did, I risked jail time and fines.The scammers played on my fears. I had worked so hard for a better education and life since <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/america-immigration-needs-reform-losing-workers-2023-3">immigrating to the US</a> 10 years ago, and I was afraid of being deported and losing my status. The scammers also warned of people who were killed by the supposed crime syndicate. Leaving my apartment to go to work or shop for groceries was suddenly frightening. I thought someone was really after me and that at any moment, anything could go wrong.There were many moments when I was skeptical. In fact, a couple of weeks into the scam, I received a LINE message from the Thai Consulate in LA warning about scammers impersonating the Thai police. But the scammers convinced me that the warning message had been sent by the criminals to keep me from complying with the investigation. Because of the threats, paranoia, stress, and lack of sleep, I found myself believing every word they said.<h2>I sent the scammers $81,000 in a wire transfer</h2>My first <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/credit-score/wire-fraud">wire transfer</a> was on April 3, 11 days after the initial call.The scammers said I was accused of selling my bank account to the crime syndicate, so in order to clear my name, they needed to investigate the money in my bank account. They claimed to have a contract with Hong Kong police who specialized in investigating money laundering, so I wired $81,000 — pretty much all of my savings — to a Hong Kong bank account. They left me with some money for day-to-day spending and paying rent and said they would eventually return the full amount.A few days later, the fake police officer told me that my money cleared, but the court would need to examine all of the evidence as well. He asked if I could travel to Thailand to appear in court, but warned that someone had been killed making the same trip to clear their name. He said I could also ask someone else to appear on my behalf.Thinking I couldn't risk telling my family, I asked the officer if he would represent me in court. He played it very well, saying it was a lot to ask and that he needed a few days to decide. He agreed the next day but said that I needed to send money for collateral to ensure I didn't escape while he was representing me.<h2>Then, I transferred another $150,000</h2>I didn't have any more money since I'd already emptied my life's savings. I lied to my family and asked them for money, telling them that I was applying for a Ph.D. — which had been my dream — and needed to show the school that I had $200,000 in my bank account to help with my chances of being accepted. My family valued education so much that I knew they would send me that amount without many questions. They wired the money — most of it from my aunt's retirement fund — and I wired $150,000 to the "police" in two chunks, first $100,000 and then $50,000.Someone from Bank of America's fraud department called me after I made the $100,000 transaction. She asked me what the money was for and informed me about <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/currencies/crypto-crime-pig-butchering-scam-bitcoing-trafficking-fraud-cryptocurrency-2024-2">"pig butchering" investment scams</a> and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/romance-scammer-peter-gray-tinder-fraud-2024-5">romance scams</a>. Neither of those applied to me, so it didn't occur to me that I was being scammed. I lied and said that the money was for my sick cousin in Hong Kong whom I'd never met.When I <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wells-fargo-customer-lost-68k-after-being-tricked-scammer-2023-5">tried to wire</a> the additional $50,000 a couple of days later, the bank's fraud department called again, asking more questions about where the $100,000 came from and where it went. I told them that my dad had meant to send it to my cousin but accidentally wired it to me. They told me to show up at the local branch, where I found out that the $50,000 transfer had been canceled. The scammers instructed me to appear agitated and say that my cousin needed the money for brain surgery. The $50,000 transfer was approved, and I walked out of that branch feeling such a sense of accomplishment, because I thought I had saved my family from being jailed.<h2>I just wanted it to be over</h2>About a week later, the scammers introduced new characters.They said a woman who had been scammed by the "crime syndicate" had died by suicide, and that I was responsible for her death because she had transferred money into a bank account in my name. They told me the woman's son wanted payment.During one of my video calls with the police officer, I could hear the "son" calling for justice for his mom. He wanted me to pay $120,000 in compensation for her death. The scammers acted like they helped me negotiate the amount down to $60,000, which I got from my family through more lies, and wired it over.At this point, the "investigation" had been ongoing for nearly a month and a half. I kept thinking: I just want to be done with this. Why is it not over yet? I didn't want to report my whereabouts to them four times a day anymore, and I felt like I was being monitored constantly both in my physical world and in the online world. I started to have suicidal ideation. I wanted to disappear.But the scammers talked me out of those thoughts, telling me not to let the "criminals" win. Of course, now I realize they wouldn't let me die because they wanted me to keep wiring money to them.<h2>Coming back to reality, my whole world came crashing down</h2>The scammers ultimately told me that the court thought the evidence I provided looked clean, but they needed to make sure I didn't keep any assets on my credit cards. On June 4, I was told to cash-advance them $10,800 from my three different credit cards and wire them all of the income I'd made over the past three months since the "investigation" had begun, totaling $20,000. They told me this was the last thing I had to do, and they would present it in court.On June 7, the fake officer sent me a text that the court had ruled me innocent and that I wouldn't need to give daily reports of my location and photos anymore.He also said I needed to go back to Thailand to collect repayment of the money I had sent.I started looking up flight tickets. A few days later, I sent him a screenshot of a potential flight option and called him multiple times to ask about the details of the security measures in place, because I was fearful about my safety.None of my phone calls went through, and that was when it hit me: They were gone, and my money was probably gone, too.On June 11, I went to the FBI office in San Francisco and asked the agents for a reality check. They said they ran my record, and it was clean. An FBI agent told me, "You've been scammed. You should report it online."I walked back to my office and sat in my chair looking up at the ceiling, trying to figure out if what the FBI agent said was real. Maybe, I thought, it was such a top-secret case that this FBI agent didn't know about it. It was hard to discern the truth.I went home and told the story to two friends, then called the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) and a few other Thai organizations. They all told me the same thing: I'd been scammed.That's when my world came crashing down. I remember dropping onto the ground of my friends' apartment as the realization washed over me. It was one of the most painful moments of my life — coming to the realization that I had lost more than $300,000. The money was gone. And not just my money, but also my family's money — pretty much my aunt's entire retirement fund. It was all because of me. The guilt will stay with me for the rest of my life.<h2>My friends and family have helped me through it</h2>My friends helped pick me up off the floor and make a step-by-step plan, including going to the banks to report fraudulent activity, filing a report with the FBI and the San Francisco police, and contacting the Thai embassy.It took me a few days to call my brother and tell him what was going on. I said, "The money you wired to me is gone, and it's all because of me."A few days later, my brother and my aunt called me together and asked what help I needed, and offered to fly to me in San Francisco. I'm very lucky that they are supportive. I'm sure that they have a lot of questions that they're not asking me yet, but their main concern right now is my mental health.I still remember something my brother said to me: "You can lose anything in this world, but you cannot lose yourself. You still have your brain, your legs. I'm glad that nothing bad happened to you. You still have your full potential and capability to continue the work that you do, to be you, and to make an impact on this world. You still have that, and know that that's something no one can take away from you." I hold onto that — focusing on what I have and not on what I lost.<h2>I'm doing better but still sometimes have nightmares</h2>I felt like I lost myself in those three months; it was like I was in a cult. All the lies and threats prevented me from taking the steps I should've taken to protect myself. I feel like I'm the scammer because I <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elderly-immigrant-parents-lost-life-savings-investment-scam-2023-12">scammed my family</a>, in a sense, by lying to them. It broke my heart and I'm disgusted with myself.Each week is better, but there are nights I still have nightmares, and I wake up in the middle of the night crying. I spiral into negative self-talk. My brain still goes over the conversations I had with the scammers.The FBI told me they would contact me if they assigned anyone to the case, but I still haven't heard back. I also contacted the Hong Kong police, who informed me that there was no money left in the three bank accounts I wired to.I take responsibility for what I did, but I also feel that the financial system failed me. If bank employees had asked me for even more details and documents as proof — like the medical records of my "cousin" who needed surgery — I might have hit a dead end.I was in $10,800 of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/paid-off-credit-card-debt-solid-plan-2024-6">credit card debt</a> because of the cash advance, so I paid that off first. I'm grateful to friends who lent me money to do so, and now I'm working on paying them back. My plan is to get myself back to zero by the end of the year. Then, I can start rebuilding my life again. I also plan to talk to my aunt about some kind of installment plan for repaying her. I'm still pretty traumatized but I'm doing much better emotionally now.My biggest piece of advice from going through this is to not let yourself be vulnerable to your own emotions. Take a step back and ask yourself: What am I feeling? Why am I feeling this way? Do I have to do this? If people take a deep breath and don't give in to powerful emotions, they'll be less likely to fall victim to these <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/investing/crypto-scams">devastating and life-changing scams</a>.Bank of America told Business Insider about its approach to scam prevention, saying: "We continuously educate our clients about scams. Bank employees receive regular training, and we have internal processes to help flag unusual transactions."The company said that these safety measures include asking questions in real time about withdrawals and warning clients about scams. However, the company said that sometimes clients neglect warnings, lie about the purposes of withdrawals, and proceed with the transactions anyway.In response to Suprasert's case, the bank said it tried to warn her. "We spent considerable time sharing information with the client about scams and she even thanked us during a call for our efforts to warn her," the company said. "Despite our warnings, she decided to send her money."A representative of the Royal Thai Embassy said that it would not comment on the specific case, but confirmed that its officers have received reports of similar scams. An FBI spokesperson said it does not comment on potential investigations.

I was scammed out of $300K in a 3-month-long government impersonation scam

The Budget 2024-2025 announcement by Union Finance Minister <keyword id="19916618" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nirmala-Sitharaman" source="keywords">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> saw productivity and resilience in <keyword id="19931887" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="agriculture" source="keywords">agriculture</keyword> being prioritised above all else. With a desire to turn focus on <keyword id="19934969" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="farmers" source="keywords">farmers</keyword>, or Annadatas, ₹1.52 lakh crore has been allocated for agriculture and its allied sectors. This is quite an increase from the Interim Budget announcement of ₹1.27 lakh crore in February 2024. It is being speculated that this substantial focus on the agricultural sector stems from the BJP's vote share dipping in semi-urban and rural areas during the recent Lok Sabha elections. In fact, when Prime Minister <keyword id="19895781" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="narendra-modi" source="keywords">Narendra Modi</keyword> returned for a third term in office, the first file he signed was for the release of the 17th instalment of the PM <keyword id="22000840" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="kisan-nidhi" source="keywords">Kisan Nidhi</keyword> scheme, ET reported. However, the government's commitment to transforming agriculture and potentially the lives of Indian farmers could lead to the agricultural sector growing at 3.7% in the current fiscal, compared to 1.4% last year, as per the CII. <h2>Key initiatives in agriculture</h2>Transforming Agriculture Research The government is set to conduct a comprehensive review of the agricultural research framework, with an emphasis on enhancing productivity and developing climate-resilient crop varieties. Funding will be allocated on a challenge basis, including to private sector initiatives. This research will be overseen by domain experts from both governmental and non-governmental organizations. Release of New Varieties A total of 109 new high-yielding and climate-resilient varieties of 32 field and horticulture crops will be introduced for farmers to cultivate. Promoting Natural Farming In the next two years, the government plans to transition one crore farmers to natural farming practices, supported by certification and branding efforts. This initiative will be carried out through scientific institutions and willing <keyword id="20030597" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="gram-panchayats" source="keywords">gram panchayats</keyword>, with 10,000 bio-input resource centers to be established based on need. Missions for Pulses and Oilseeds To achieve self-sufficiency in pulses and oilseeds, the government will strengthen their production, storage, and marketing. As outlined in the interim budget, a strategy is being implemented to attain 'atmanirbharta' (self-reliance) for oilseeds like mustard, groundnut, sesame, soybean, and sunflower. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111930255" title="Economic Survey calls for urgent agricultural reforms; cites growth hurdles" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>Vegetable Production &amp; Supply Chains Large-scale clusters for vegetable production will be developed near major consumption centers. The government will support Farmer-Producer Organizations, cooperatives, and startups to streamline the vegetable supply chain, including collection, storage, and marketing. Digital Public Infrastructure for Agriculture Building on the success of a pilot project, the government, in partnership with states, will facilitate the implementation of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for agriculture over the next three years. This year, a digital crop survey for Kharif crops will be conducted in 400 districts, integrating details of six crore farmers and their lands into registries. Additionally, Jan Samarth-based Kisan Credit Cards will be issued in five states. Shrimp Production &amp; Export Financial support will be provided to establish a network of Nucleus Breeding Centres for shrimp broodstocks. NABARD will facilitate financing for shrimp farming, processing, and export. National Cooperation Policy A new National Cooperation Policy will be introduced to promote systematic and comprehensive development of the cooperative sector. This policy aims to fast-track rural economic growth and create large-scale employment opportunities. <h2>Budget allocation highlights</h2><ul><li>PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi: Will be retaining its allocation of ₹60,000 crore to provide direct financial assistance to 11.8 crore small and marginal farmers.</li><li>Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana: Allocated funds to provide crop insurance to four crore farmers, protecting them from adverse weather conditions.</li><li>e-NAM Expansion: Integration of 1,361 mandis into the e-NAM platform to enhance market efficiency and transparency, benefiting 1.8 crore farmers with an expected trading volume of ₹3 lakh crore.</li></ul><h2>Government committed to Polavaram irrigation project in Andhra Pradesh</h2>The Finance Minister said that the government is fully committed to financing and expeditiously completing the Polavaram irrigation project, which is considered a lifeline for Andhra Pradesh and its farmers. <h2>Future directions</h2>The government aims to increase public and private investment in post-harvest infrastructure and supply chains, promoting aggregation, modern storage, and efficient processing to reduce losses and improve food security. Additionally, the dairy and fisheries sectors will see significant development, with initiatives to boost productivity and exports, contributing to a sustainable and prosperous agricultural ecosystem. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111951205" title="Budget 2024-25: Changes to tax slabs, increased standard deduction and other changes to direct taxation" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>

What does Union Budget 2024-2025 have in store for farmers and the agricultural sector?

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Some iPhone owners have been hit with an elaborate new phishing scam, Krebs on Security reports.</li><li>The scam involves repeated alerts telling users to reset their Apple password and a spoofed call.</li></ul>There's a new phishing scheme <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ex-apple-insider-says-company-is-in-battle-for-soul-2024-3">targeting Apple</a> owners, and it's pretty elaborate — and annoying.Some iPhone owners have received unprompted and repeated <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-id">notifications to allow a reset of their Apple ID password</a>, a form of attack known as "MFA bombing," according to a <a target="_blank" href="https://krebsonsecurity.com/2024/03/recent-mfa-bombing-attacks-targeting-apple-users/">report</a> from cybersecurity research and news website Krebs on Security.Since the notifications come from the Apple device, users can't use their phone until they deny or accept the request to reset.One user, Parth Patel, posted on X, formerly Twitter, that he received over 100 notifications asking him to reset his password. Patel told Business Insider that he's a cofounder of an AI startup still in stealth. The scammer's attempts to gain access to his Apple account didn't end there.Patel said after 15 minutes of alerts, he <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-phone-number-logo-shows-up-on-iphones-in-scam-calls-2019-1">received a spoofed call from the Apple Support</a> phone number, telling him again that he needed to reset his password."I was obviously still on guard, so I asked them to validate a ton of information about me, before answering any of their questions," Patel said. "They got a lot right, from DOB, to email, to phone number, to current address, historic addresses…."Patel said in his social media post that the only detail they got wrong was his name — which confirmed for him that it was a scam.Patel told BI that the goal of the scam was likely to get the user to reset their Apple ID password using a one-time code sent over text message. If the user used the one-time code, the attackers could reset the password on the account, lock the user out, and even wipe all their Apple devices.Another iPhone owner quoted in Krebs on Security said he experienced a similar situation and ended up replacing his phone and making a new Apple account after the phishing attempt, but still received the password-reset requests — leading him to believe the scammer was relying on knowing his phone number to carry out the scheme.Apple said it has taken steps to address the reported issue."We are aware of reports that a small number of iPhone users are receiving a high volume of alerts asking if they are attempting to reset their password," an Apple spokesperson told Business Insider.Apple said scammers often used spoofed calls to claim suspicious activity on an account or device. They aim to get information, money, or even Apple <a target="_blank" href="https://support.apple.com/itunes-gift-card-scams">gift cards</a>.A good rule of thumb is that if you didn't personally try to reset your Apple password, you shouldn't be receiving a request to allow your password to reset. Even if the notifications are annoying and frequent — which should be a red flag anyway — resist the urge to tap "accept" to be rid of them.Customers should assume any suspicious message, call, or request for personal information is a scam and hang up, according to Apple. Apple also said that you should call the company directly if you feel suspicious.US customers can report scam phone calls to the Federal Trade Commission at <a target="_blank" href="http://reportfraud.ftc.gov">reportfraud.ftc.gov</a> or to local law enforcement agencies.

There's a new scam targeting iPhone owners with a barrage of notifications

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana also popularly called as PM-Kisan is a scheme that is meant to benefit the farmers in the country. Under the <keyword id="7289466" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="pm-kisan">PM Kisan</keyword> scheme, every farmer in the country will be given a total amount of Rs. 6,000 issued in three instalments of Rs. 2,000. PM-Kisan yojana targets to provide financial assistance to the small and marginal level farmers in the nation. The PM Samman Nidhi Yojana benefits the Indian farmers in all states by providing INR 6,000 financial assistance for the purchase of seeds, fertilizers, farming supplies and pesticides. The payment is released as per the details published on the official website of the scheme <a href="http://pmkisan.gov.in">pmkisan.gov.in</a>. You can follow the steps given below to check the PM Kisan balance. How to check PM Kisan Samman Nidhi status or PM Kisan balance Visit the official website of the Indian Government’s <a href="http://pmkisan.gov.in">PM Kisan Samman Nidhi</a> scheme. You can find the latest updates on the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi on this website. Move the mouse curser on the ‘Farmer’s Corner Section. You will find a drop down menu. Select the option ‘Beneficiary List’. In this list, you will find the status of your application for the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi. Alternatively, you can also click on the direct link <a href="http://pmkisan.gov.in/">pmkisan.gov.in</a>. Here also you will find the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi list for your village. In this list, you will find the name of the farmer and the amount allotted for the farmer in their bank account. After landing on the beneficiary list of the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, you need to choose the name of your state, district, Sub-District, Block and Village one by one from the drop down menus. Once you have selected all these entries, you must click on the ‘Get Report’ section for checking the list of your village for the details of the Kisan Samman Nidhi with regard to this present phase. On the list of Kisan belonging to your village, choose your name from the alphabetical list to know the status of the financial aid given to you under this scheme. See Also - <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/article/how-to-check-pradhan-mantri-jan-dhan-yojana-account-balance/articleshow/75182470.cms">How to check Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana Balance</a>

How to check PM Kisan scheme money and balance

New Delhi, Feb 24 () The Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Monday asked the West Bengal government to join the ambitious central scheme, PM-Kisan, which completed one year of operation without the state on board. Barring West Bengal, all other states and union territories are implementing the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) which has benefited 8.45 crore farmers so far in the country, against the target of 14 crore farmers. The minister also launched PM-Kisan mobile App on completion of one year of the implementation of the scheme. Tomar said: "West Bengal has not yet joined the scheme. There are 70 lakh farmers in the state. Benefits worth about Rs 4,000 crore will reach to these farmers if implemented." Of the 70 lakh farmers from the state, about 10 lakh farmers have already self-registered for the scheme via the online portal of PM-Kisan, he said and added the cash benefit to these farmers will reach once the state government verifies the data. Stating that the cash benefit under the scheme will not only help farmers but also boost the state economy, Tomar said: "Our officials have approached the state government in this regard many times. I have also written twice to the chief minister urging to join the scheme. But no reply has come yet from the CM." Tomar said some states like Andhra Pradesh, Bihar and Sikkim are slow in authenticating their farmers' data and the central government is pursuing with them seriously. The aim is to achieve the target of 14 crore farmers by next year. On PM-Kisan portal, the centre has received data of total 9.74 crore farmers. Already, payment has been made to 8.45 crore farmers, he said. About 85 per cent of the farmers data registered under the scheme has been Aadhar verified, the rest will be completed soon, he added. Under the scheme, the centre is paying Rs 6,000 annually in three equal installments to eligible farmers. LUX DRRDRR

Centre appeals WB govt to join PM-Kisan scheme

New Delhi, Mar 17 () The Pradhan Mantri Kisan SammanNidhi Yojana (PMKSNY) has been implemented successfully acrossthe country, barring West Bengal as the eastern state did notjoin the scheme, Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday.Union Minister of State for Agriculture Kailash Choudharysaid the PM-KISAN scheme has been successfully implementedacross the country."So far, as on March 11, 2020, financial benefit underthe scheme has been released to 8,69,79,391 beneficiaries.However, these exclude about 69 lakh farmers of West Bengal asthe government of West Bengal has not yet decided to join thescheme," he said during Question Hour.The minister said the entire responsibility ofidentification of eligible beneficiary farmer families anduploading their correct details on the PM-KISAN portal restswith State/UT governments concerned.State governments have been continuously requested andvigorously pursued for expeditious registration and uploadingof data of beneficiaries, in mission mode and by organisingcamps.Meeting is held weekly through video conferencing withstate governments and other stakeholders concerned so as toremove any handicaps coming in the way of smooth and seamlessimplementation of the scheme, he said.Choudhary said the target of the government is to achieve100 per cent saturation by enrolling every eligible farmerfamily of the country.To achieve this, States and UTs have been asked toconduct various saturation drives, he said. ACBDV DV

PM-KISAN scheme being implemented across India except W Bengal

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<li>As much as ₹600 billion ($9 billion) was spent, this election, according to a report by the Center for Media Studies. </li><li>The money spent in India’s 2019 general election was more than the money spent in a much richer country like US. </li><li>The cost of every vote in India is pegged at ₹700, according to the estimate. </li></ul>The Lok Sabha Poll 2019 is a vicious, vigorous money guzzler--- where candidates fought at ‘any cost’. The Election Commission of India (ECI) confiscated more than twice the amount of cash, gold and liquor they did, last year. But that seems to have had no effect on the amount spent on this costliest election ever, anywhere. According to a report by the Center for Media Studies, as much as ₹600 billion (nearly $9 billion) was spent, this election. Even in a much richer country like the US, the total amount of money spent in the last election in 2016 was relatively lesser at $6.5 billion for congressional and Presidential races combined, according to <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/04/14/somebody-just-put-a-price-tag-on-the-2016-election-its-a-doozy/?noredirect=on&amp;utm_term=.adcc2dd254d0">campaign watchdog Open </a>Secrets. This amount of money spent on election does more damage than just being a financial burden. “Even though the horrors of money are obvious, why will they legislate in their own self interest till sufficient advocacy on the ground pushes for it?” commented S Y Quraishi, former chief election commissioner (CEC) of India, said in a foreword to the report. Excessive money spent in campaigning is a harbinger of bad governance which will be ridden with vested interests who would want bang for the buck spent on electing a candidate or a government. According to Quraishi, the next election will be no better in terms of being free, fair and transparent, if the rising tide of criminalisation of politics and overarching influence of money in politics isn’t stemmed. Direct ‘Benefit’ Transfer More than two-thirds of India’s legislators are millionaires, many times over. It is hence not surprising that the candidates of this election have dug deep into their pockets. This time, newer and convenient delivery models of election bribing has come to the fore. “For the first time it is confirmed that bank transfer of money on the eve of poll has become a new route to lure voters in the name of one or more scheme,” the report said. As per the estimates, the cost of every vote is pegged at ₹700. One of the examples is the transfer of money to farmers under PM-KISAN, a central government scheme announced in the recent budget. Business Insider found that in many parts of Uttar Pradesh, farmers received the money into their bank accounts less than 48 hours before the polling. While this may be clear in legal terms as the PM-KISAN scheme was rolled out before the the Election Commission's model code of conduct kicked in. However, it cannot be denied that the transfer may have timed to influence the voter's choice in the nick of time. 
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 Poll candidates have also diversified their offerings to voters. As per the seizures reported by the Election Commission, drugs and narcotics, liquor, gold and silver have made to the list of handouts, along <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/election-2019-gold-confiscated-in-tamil-nadu-ahead-of-second-phase/articleshow/68933494.cms">with other freebies</a>. “It is high time that Parliament deliberates on poll expenditure for campaigns, and about election funding, preceded by serious national discussions,” the report said. But, like Quraishi doubted with lawmakers who have spent ‘so much’ to get there, will try to restrict money--- will remain a big question. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/facebooks-ad-archive-report-50-facebook-ads-by-bjp/articleshow/68304281.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">BJP spends too much on political advertising on Facebook as Congress spends too little — yet again</a>

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